The Asplundh Tree

Summer 2018 THE ASPLUNDH TREE MERIT THE AWARDS ASPLUNDH splundh is proud to recognize TREE General Foreperson Chris Summer 2018 Reid of the Ron Hallock A CONTENTS Region in Florida with a corporate Silver Merit Award for quickly and effectively Restoring Power To Puerto Rico ...... 3 using his CPR skills to help a worker who More Stormy Times ...... 6 collapsed as the Hurricane Irma storm Co-op Corner ...... 7 response was just getting started last fall. A Long-Standing Connection On September 10, 2017, as Hurricane To Line Construction ...... 8 Irma was pounding the Florida Keys, tree From The Archives ...... 10 and line crews were gathered at a hotel p At the request of Manager Ron Hallock in Management Update ...... 11 staging area for Lee County Electric Florida, Manager Don Redden (L) in eastern Retirees Honored ...... 13 Cooperative in South Florida, waiting for Pennsylvania and Corporate Safety Director In Memoriam ...... 14 the storm to pass over. Chris was walking Adam Martin (R) presented the Asplundh Orchids ...... 15 through the parking lot and saw a group of Silver Merit Award pin to General Foreperson Service Anniversaries ...... 18 workers standing around a man who was Chris Reid (center) who temporarily unconscious on the ground. transferred with his crews to southeastern Home Office Honors ...... 21 Although someone had already called Pennsylvania in February. Chris was recognized Crews & News ...... 22 911, Chris quickly decided to step in to for not hesitating to perform CPR on a worker Supporting TREE Fund Through check the worker’s vital signs. There from another company who passed out and Event Partnerships ...... 25 was a heartbeat, but no breathing. Chris stopped breathing in a hotel parking lot on September 10, 2017 during the Hurricane checked his airway and since it was Irma storm response. ON THE COVER clear, he began chest compressions. By Steep, narrow roads are contrasted by the the time the ambulance arrived several natural beauty of Puerto Rico as an Asplundh minutes later, the victim was regaining worker came back to the hotel to say crew works to help restore power there. See consciousness and beginning to talk. thank you, but Chris was gone on storm story on pgs. 3-6. (photo by Matt Morales) The man, who appeared to be in his response duty. mid-thirties, was an employee of another “I just acted on instinct and training,” MANAGING EDITOR company and was taken to the hospital for says Chris. We are proud of his actions CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS observation and testing. Chris received and how they helped to keep another Patti Chipman word a few days later that the unnamed human being alive. Well done! WRITER/EDITOR Kristin Wild ASSISTANT EDITOR/ GRAPHICS SPECIALIST MARK YOUR CALENDAR! Ronnie Gauker

Wall Calendar Photo Entries Due August 17, 2018 The Asplundh TREE is a family magazine, Shoot Out Photo Contest Entries Due October 19, 2018 published three times a year for all employees and friends of the Asplundh companies. You may enter up to 10 of your photos total combined in the Nature and/or Work Asplundh welcomes requests to reprint or Related categories. High-resolution digital images (either e-mailed or on disc) are otherwise duplicate this magazine, in whole acceptable, as well as color or black and white prints. No negatives, please. If your or in part. Please contact the Managing Editor photo is selected for the 2019 wall calendar, you will be sent three complimentary of Corporate Communications at the address copies. Shoot Out winners will receive a VISA gift card, ranging from $75 for below for permission, or call 1-800-248-TREE Honorable Mention to $200 for first place. (in the U.S. or Canada). © Please be sure to include your name, address, phone number and the categories you 2018 Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC wish to enter, along with a brief description of each picture. If you send in prints or a disc, please package them carefully. Entries will not be returned unless you specifically request it. Please e-mail your top-notch entries to: [email protected]. Asplundh Tree Expert, LLC 708 Blair Mill Road or snail mail them to: Asplundh Corporate Communications Willow Grove, PA 19090 708 Blair Mill Road, Willow Grove, PA 19090 www.asplundh.com Thank you! Printed on recycled paper by Bruce Mellott SAFETY SUCCESS Vice President of Corporate Safety IS NO ACCIDENT

was on a flight the other week, traveling to speak at an we already use for hiring. Research shows that online training industry-related conference. The flight attendant got on requires more of the learner’s involvement than any other Ithe loud speaker and began the pre-flight safety briefing. training method and has the benefit of learning at one’s After introducing herself, she informed the passengers that own pace. The new module enables us to assign courses in she would be training on today’s flight under the direction of a different subject areas such as safety, project management, trainer who was already an experienced flight attendant. After information technology, supervisory and management skills, and getting airborne, it was time for the trainee to do her thing. communications, just to name a few. Learners will sign into the system using their company login and can access the materials For the next two hours, I watched her struggle, not anytime, day or night. knowing what to do while her “trainer” sat in a seat, filled out paperwork and used her cell phone—generally unaware of We will be using this module to track all safety training in what the trainee was struggling with. The trainee made multiple the future. The application automatically stores a list of all trips up and down the aisle to ask for direction and seemed the training classes an employee has taken throughout their very unsure of what to do when presented with various issues. employment history. Our in-house videos will be stored in this The incident bothered me and I wondered how many times system and we have already arranged with several suppliers to similar situations occur in our industry. put their equipment-specific training materials into the system as well. In addition to tracking completed training sessions, Our employee training program is arguably the BEST in the system will send notifications of when refresher training the utility line clearance tree trimming industry. We employ is coming due or is past due, further helping us manage this multiple forms of instruction including on-the-job training, important piece of our safety program. coaching/mentoring, instructor-led certification sessions, videos, and group discussions to appeal to various learning Look for more information coming out about how to use this styles and different positions within the organization. Despite new training system in the early summer months. this, the weak link is always the trainer. How the learner receives the message makes all the difference in whether one understands the expectation(s) of the position or not. Training Stay Safe, is a HUGE responsibility and the task requires motivated and skillful individuals to be effective. As the leadership principle goes, “There are no bad teams, only bad leaders”, and the same could be said about trainees and trainers. Bruce Mellott Later this year, Asplundh will be introducing online learning [email protected] to all of its operations in North America to further enhance our training platforms. We have purchased the rights to an additional module within the BirdDogHR software application

RECOGNITION OF SAFETY PERFORMANCE

t The responsibilities of a Regional Safety Superintendent (RSS) are significant on just a routine, day-to-day basis, but when hundreds of employees from other parts of the country come to your region during a major storm response, the duties and risks increase exponentially! Vice President of Corporate Safety Bruce Mellott (far R) was proud to recognize these four RSSs with Asplundh White Cross Awards for their hard work and good safety records during storm responses to Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 and Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The award recipients were (L to R): Glen Ortagus of the Wilmer McWhirter Region in Georgia, Donald Vincent of the Ron Hallock Region in Florida, Richard Gordin of the Allen LeBlanc Region in Texas and Mike Venezia of the Dave Craddock Region in Florida. The awards were presented on March 16 during the 2018 Regional Safety Summit in Tampa, Florida.

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 1 RECOGNITION OF SAFETY PERFORMANCE CONTINUED t On December 1, 2017, Asplundh t Asplundh Construction Construction Manager Ted Fiala (L) Roving Foreperson Gary Kjaer gave a handshake of appreciation to (L) congratulated Foreperson Journeyman Fitter Aubrey Brown (R) Brandon Bedsworth (R) as he presented him with his region’s after presenting him with Quarterly Safety Award. Aubrey works in the Fiala Region’s Quarterly Asplundh Construction’s gas operations Safety Award on March 23. on the property of Baltimore Gas & Brandon’s safety leadership Electric (BGE) in Maryland. He was in the first quarter of 2018 recognized for his exceptional safety earned him this recognition. leadership and observed safe work Both work in gas operations practices in the third quarter of 2017. on the property of BGE. WITH TRAINING AND PRACTICE

u RSS Paul Snethen from the Ed Bradshaw Region in Kansas recently reported that there are more than 130 tree felling trainers in the region and that the regional goal is to have every foreperson go through the class. He explained that the class is more than just teaching the five steps of tree felling. A ‘train the trainer’ class, like this one hosted in the Bradshaw Region, also teaches the participants how to train others using the four step method of telling, showing, trying out and checking/following up. This training method is a skill that all participants aim to perfect since training members of their crews is a major job responsibility. Using this method effectively helps to improve safety and productivity.

t This group from the Larry Kirk Region kicked off the new year right with their annual Tree Felling Safety Refresher class held on January 12 on the property of Foreperson Ricki Stuart in Galax, Virginia. Instruction was given by RSS James Eastridge, Safety Training Superintendents Keith Lindquist and Jon Long, and General Forepersons Mike Davis and Brandon Delp. The participants were broken up into smaller groups to have plenty of hands-on practice with chain saw maintenance and safety, as well as the five steps of tree felling. These folks work on the property of AEP, Virginia DOT and Virginia Tech Electric.

u Demonstrating u RSS Jason Yelton and practicing how to of the Scott Harmon measure the height of a Region sent in this tree by using a stick photo he took during is part of the first a ‘train the trainer’ step in the five step climbing course tree removal process. held in Lowry City, This hand selected Missouri on May 2. group of 17 tree felling He was impressed by trainers-to-be came the instruction given from the Gene Hayden by Senior Corporate Region in Tennessee and the Rickey Bailey Region in Alabama and Florida. Safety Trainer Caesar They spent February 6-7 in Memphis, Tennessee learning about hazards Bustos and the and height, tree lean, escape routes, open face notches and proper back performance of the participants, who were recommended cuts so they could go back to their crews to teach them. The class was for this advanced training class by their general forepersons. conducted by three of Corporate Safety’s training experts, Joe Kern, Passing on the knowledge they gained is crucial for improving Caesar Bustos, and Shane Vosberg, with assistance from Safety Training safety and production for manual crews using newer rope Superintendent Demarico Howard of the Hayden Region. techniques and equipment technology.

The Asplundh TREE 2 Summer 2018 RESTORING POWER TO PUERTO RICO or most of us, being without u Eight Asplundh bucket trucks and electric power for more than a two pick-ups were off-loaded in San F day or two seems like a terrible Juan on December 1, 2017, the day hardship and most businesses can’t after an 18-person team arrived from operate effectively without electricity. the Ryan Swier and Matthew Pence Imagine living and trying to work on Regions. They were part of a power the island of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory restoration mission spearheaded by in the Caribbean Sea, for eight months New York State Governor Andrew without electricity! This was the case for Cuomo and the New York Power tens of thousands of rural Puerto Ricans Authority. Our crews were part of the after two major hurricanes hit within two Con Edison contingent. weeks in September 2017, devastating an inadequately maintained electrical grid. t Hundreds of power workers gathered in a hotel ballroom on First, Hurricane Irma skirted the island December 2, 2017 to hear Governor on September 6 and left approximately Cuomo speak as they began their one million Puerto Rico Electric Power assignment. Pictured here are the Authority (PREPA) customers in the dark. Asplundh tree crews, but Asplundh This represents about two-thirds of the Construction crews from the Frank total 1.473 million PREPA customers. Giordano and Brett Martin Regions The restoration work was cut short were also in attendance. when Hurricane Maria made landfall in southeastern Puerto Rico with 155 mile per hour winds on September 18. It traveled u An Asplundh Construction crew works to transfer diagonally across the 110-mile long island, conductors and a transformer to a new pole in the densely destroying approximately 80 percent of the populated community of Bello Monte in Guaynabo, south already damaged electrical grid. of San Juan. Although tight working quarters were a With help from Asplundh tree problem in the city, the narrow, steep roads in the rural crews and line crews from Asplundh areas were also a big challenge. Construction and Utility Lines Construction Services (ULCS), over 98 percent of PREPA’s customers had their power restored by May 20 when the last ULCS crew returned home.

Asplundh Construction And t An Asplundh tree crew finishes a tree removal Tree Crews Deployed while the Con Edison line crews begin repairing a Through a contract arrangement with damaged line in Rio Piedras, just outside the city of the Federal Emergency Management San Juan. Wide, flat roads were much less common Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Army Corps as the crews moved away from the city. of Engineers, the New York Power Authority and participating utility companies, the first Asplundh crews wire pullers, pick-up trucks, tools and Juan from the Ryan Swier Region, which arrived in San Juan, the capital of Puerto supplies arrived soon after. Despite initial serves customers in parts of New York, Rico, on November 21, 2017. Our shortages of replacement wire, poles and New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Mechanic first group consisted of 20 Asplundh other electrical supplies, they immediately Shane Brady from the Matthew Pence Construction employees from the went to work on repairing the damaged Region in the Carolinas also joined the Frank Giordano Region in New York electrical grid in the city and its suburbs, tree team. Nearly everyone in the group and 10 from the Brett Martin Region in using whatever was available. had ties to Puerto Rico through relatives Massachusetts and Rhode Island. and were fluent in Spanish, which made One week later, just after Thanksgiving, interactions with local citizens and PREPA A barge with their various bucket 16 Asplundh tree workers, plus General personnel easier. trucks, digger derricks, pole trailers, Foreperson Matt Morales, arrived in San

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 3 With only eight Asplundh tree crews u Despite Hurricane to support approximately 600 line crews, Maria stripping the leaves all based out of the San Juan Coliseum off many trees, it didn’t (including the Asplundh Construction take long for Puerto Rico’s crews), it was crucial to keep every vegetation to come back. person and vehicle running in order to Crews found that machetes maintain a tight scheduling process. Matt’s (at right) and pole saws were invaluable for cutting through crews primarily worked with Con Edison, the thick undergrowth and vines. They also got used to but his team’s technical skills were in high seeing iguanas (above) of all sizes, in all sorts of places, demand with other line crews as well. He including power lines! Snakes were also commonly seen, said, “I had to plan the work for my crews but none were venomous. to make the most of every 16-hour day. Plus, we had to make sure to document each job with GPS and get it signed off to t In the mountainous community of meet the contract requirements.” Mamey in Guaynabo, Asplundh Construction Foreperson Gary Lorandini and Journeyman Both the Asplundh line and tree crews Lineworker Jay Mass from the Frank remained based in San Juan for the entire Giordano Region prepare to set a pole as four-plus months that they were on the part of a by-pass they were tasked to build restoration assignment. However, their around a damaged line that was no longer commutes to work sites in the mountains accessible. Steep, narrow and twisting roads and valleys outside the city became longer also made it impossible to use a pole trailer and more difficult over time. to deliver poles needed for many jobs. Although they initially thought they would be done in a couple months, the contracts were extended and both groups u Looking down into a deep ravine, one can see that remained committed to the restoration the members of a tree crew had to carve out places mission. Despite long hours and months to work at all different levels in order to remove a tree away from home, they felt inspired by that had fallen into the distribution line that ran across the resilience of the people in Puerto the ravine. In parts of the suburbs and out in the rural Rico. The last line crews returned home areas, just getting into work sites was time consuming on March 31 and the tree crews were all and hazardous due to thick vegetation. back by April 14. A Big ULCS Team Adds A t In February, Sponsor / Executive Vice President Gregg Asplundh, Manager Ryan Big Push Swier and Supervisor Joe Scarpato came to A new phase of Asplundh’s involvement Puerto Rico to see the tree crews and their began in January, as the cities and suburbs working / living conditions. Standing (L to R) were finally getting electricity restored were: Joe Scarpato, Marco Sarmiento, and the more difficult-to-access rural Sergio Iboy-Monterroso, Miguel Lozada, Sr., communities in the mountainous interior Omar Jimenez-Pena, Gregg Asplundh, became the next challenge. Through a Miguel Lozada, Jr., Alex Almedina, Mike contract with PowerSecure (a subsidiary Jones, Manuel Valentin, Lester Montenegro-Rosales, Jamie Jones, Darren Garcia, Jimmy Nasser, of Southern Company) and the U.S. Army Alvardo Palacios, Edward Wright, Sr. and Ryan Swier. Kneeling (L to R) were: Edward Wright, Jr., Corps of Engineers, 176 employees from Shane Brady, Jaime Cordero and Matthew Morales. our line construction subsidiary, ULCS, were deployed to Puerto Rico for a big push to restore power in the countryside. The ULCS crews arrived on January 21 manager until April 10, then Safety and camp with other contractors in Arecibo in from the Mike Johnson Region in Delaware Training Manager John McGrory became northwestern Puerto Rico. and Maryland, the Danny Stanley Region the on-site lead until everyone returned Like the Asplundh Construction and in the Carolinas, the Bryan Beadle Region on May 20. The group was initially based tree company crews in the more populated in Louisiana, and the Tim Smith Region in with other contractors for about a week areas, ULCS crews worked very long days, Florida. Two barges carried almost 200 in Aguadilla (western Puerto Rico), but seven days a week in tropical weather, pieces of conventional and specialized then they moved to their own camp in primarily on 4kV to 38kV distribution lines. equipment to support the operation. Boqueron in the southwestern corner of However, they stayed in sleeping trailers, the island for about five weeks. The last ULCS Director of Strategic Development washed in shower trailers and generally ate ten weeks of the project was spent in a Ross Wiitanen was the on-site project in a mess tent. The work was mentally and

The Asplundh TREE 4 Summer 2018 t Sleeping and showering trailers were physically challenging due to the terrain ‘home sweet home’ for 176 employees at and limited supplies for repairing the Camp ULCS in Boqueron for about five electrical grid at first. A flu outbreak in weeks in February and March. Located in February meant some employees had to the relatively remote southwestern corner be quarantined. of Puerto Rico, the line crews then moved From the start of Asplundh’s work to Arecibo in the northwestern part of the in November to the completion of the island for the remainder of the project. ULCS project in May, some employees were rotated out of or into Puerto Rico to maintain the contracted employee u ULCS’ project manager in Puerto Rico, Ross Wiitanen, count, while allowing individuals to return took this photo depicting the altitude and steep terrain home as needed. However, the tears of that ULCS Foreperson Brock Stigall’s crew from the Danny appreciation and generosity from citizens Stanley Region experienced while repairing lines in the rural who had done without for so long kept community of Cain Alto in early February. Access by bucket many crews working hard for them. trucks and digger derricks was limited, so manual climbing, rigging and repairing of structures was required. As John recently said of his ULCS team, “We first went to Puerto Rico to make money and within a week, it turned into a humanitarian mission for us. It wasn’t about the money. It was about getting power to the people in the mountains.” Our crews accomplished a great deal t Some creative rigging was needed for in restoring power to Puerto Rico and this crew under ULCS Foreperson Virgil thankfully, all returned home safely. Thacker from the Mike Johnson Region who had to get a new pole and transformer Appreciation For pulled up to the top of the peak behind this Efforts In Puerto Rico home in Penuelas. They set the new pole and attached the transformer all by hand. From Base Camp Manager Wynn Fendig of Beachview Military & Disaster Solutions in Boqueron u By the end of their four-month assignment, there were and Arecibo, dated June 3: 12 helicopters contracted by PowerSecure to help with ... I had the pleasure of serving with many setting poles and pulling wire as shown here in the town of companies / individuals, some of whom I can’t Corozal. They also assisted in hauling personnel to remote remember their names, but ULCS was by sites where trucks and supplies were staged. This was far the most professional, well behaved and much quicker and avoided excessive damage to vehicles safety-minded company during my tour. Two having to navigate up and down steep, rough roads. names stand out in my book, DW Shirley and Mark Bare [from the Danny Stanley Region in the Carolinas]! Of course, other ULCS individuals contributed to the success, but these guys went over and above the call of duty. They were true leaders and served with integrity. I can’t think of a single task they did not take charge of and implement. They cultivated the ULCS success story and people in my judgement. From an e-mailed letter to the Asplundh Construction web site from Glenda Ramos Rivera, dated March 22: p Preparing to energize a repaired circuit in San German is ULCS Foreperson Erik Stomne-Mulford ... In our Barrio Caguitas Centro in Aguas from the Mike Johnson Region in Delaware. Buenas, Puerto Rico, we were assigned personnel of your company to carry out the u ULCS Foreperson Jason White from the work of restoring the electric service. It is Danny Stanley Region in North Carolina is clipped in for this reason that we are writing to let you and ready for a ‘long lining’ flight by helicopter to a know that your company has a high-quality work site that was inaccessible by trucks. staff. They are hard-working, respectful,

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 5 dedicated men, and above all, they love what More Stormy Times In 2017 in clearing massive amounts of tree they do. We know that these workers have and limb debris from power lines and left their families and their homes to come After dodging the string of hurricanes roadways from Long Island, New York and contribute to the restoration of electric in August, September and early October, up into Maine. Eight utilities requested power service in Puerto Rico. We want you utilities throughout the Northeastern crews, but the majority of our tree to know that our entire community is very U.S., especially in New England, suffered workers (over 800) were dispatched to grateful to your workers. over one million outages in the wake of Central Maine Power and National Grid in a powerful October 30, 2017 wind and Massachusetts. All crews were released to From an e-mail to the Asplundh rain storm. The storm featured winds return home by November 8, 2017. Construction web site from Awilda clocked at 45 to 70-plus miles per hour Merced, dated March 8: from New Jersey to Maine, and a 93 mile The Northeast continued to suffer from ... After Hurricane Irma, Sept. 2017, the per hour gust was registered in Mashpee, winter snow, wind and thunderstorm people from my town were living without Massachusetts. Flooding rain also fell in events all the way into May of this year. electric service. Hurricane Maria made it places, causing many large trees to uproot Look for photos and information on that worse. May God bless all the crew members and topple over. storm work in an upcoming issue of The Asplundh TREE magazine. working in Puerto Rico. In particular, those More than 1,100 Asplundh employees working in Caguitas Centro, Agua Buenas, PR. were mobilized to assist local tree crews Power was restored recently, thanks to their hard work. From an e-mail to the Asplundh web t The day after a powerful October 30, 2017 site from Jose Morales, M.D., dated wind and rain storm, a crew from the Dan January 28: Duncan Region took time to carefully evaluate and plan the clean-up work ahead of them on ... I want to thank you for working in my a New Britain, Connecticut road. The top of area after Hurricane Maria. Your workers a 36-inch DBH tree had fallen into another have done an excellent job in my area. They tree, breaking several large limbs which had have looked out for their safety and ours. I then landed on a three-phase Eversource deeply thank you. It is a difficult time for us. Energy line. According to Senior EHS Specialist God bless them! My area is Carmen Hills in Mark Foster, who was in the region to audit the municipality of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. crews, the crew did a great job in reducing From an e-mail to the Asplundh both hazards and finished up the task with no web site from Benylou Tua de Soto of injuries, nor damage to the utility equipment or private property. Well done! the San Jose community in San Juan, dated January 23: ... Thank you, thank you and thank you for t At the inaugural Bayer Pro Academy event in late October everything that you are doing on my small 2017 in North Carolina, Arborchem Products Division island, restoring normality and bringing back Supervisors Bryan Rose (second from R) and Koby Cutchall peace in a lot of places. (far R) were extremely pleased to accept a Bayer ‘Go Ahead Award’ recognizing Asplundh in their new Community category. Bayer Representative Mark Rice (far L) nominated Asplundh for the award, based on the contributions of our company’s vegetation management professionals in responding to the t Less than a devastating hurricanes of 2017. Matthew Nespeca, head of week after arriving commercial operations for Bayer Vegetation Management in Puerto Rico for (second from L) presented the award, which highlighted Asplundh for going “above and beyond when storm restoration their communities needed help the most.” work, Asplundh Construction t Two days after a severe storm tore Foreperson Chris through Wilkes County, North Carolina on Morton (L) October 23, 2017, Asplundh crews from the and Journeyman Matthew Pence Region were part of a group of Lineworker Ben 40 tree and line repair employees who were Bobier (R) posed for generously treated to lunch by a Duke Energy a photo with Mrs. Santiago (center) who finally customer. The gentleman showed his appreciation had her electricity restored 80 days after she lost for their work on the transmission line near his it (post Hurricane Irma). Her son, Jesus Santiago, home by grilling and serving up hamburgers, posted this photo and a message of thanks on chicken and hot dogs with all the fixin’s. The the Asplundh Construction Facebook page. crews were so grateful for his hospitality that they brought him a thank-you note the next day!

The Asplundh TREE 6 Summer 2018 CO-OPCORNER lay Electric Cooperative, Inc., u Gathered at the Clay Electric headquartered in Keystone Cooperative sign in front of its C Heights, Florida, serves headquarters in Keystone Heights, approximately 170,000 member-owners Florida are (L to R): Clay Electric’s in 14 North Florida counties. Clay Vegetation Management (VM) Electric’s service territory is the largest in Superintendent Rus Lott, VM Inspector the state. The co-op’s 11,000-plus miles Leon Hastings, VM Coordinator Darryl of distribution line and more than 200 Ferrell, VM Inspector Robert Ramos, miles of transmission line travel through Asplundh Permissions/Planner mostly rural countryside, including Ocala Jack Watson and General Foreperson National Forest land and various swampy James Williams. areas. However, more than a third of the rights-of-way run through suburban and urban conditions. Each setting requires a t Upon arrival at a work site in the town of slightly different approach and cycle length, Florahome, General Foreperson James Williams (L) but Clay Electric has refined its vegetation reviews and signs the safety briefing conducted by management program accordingly. Foreperson Lawson Cheves (center) and Trimmer Michael Moore (R). Lawson and Michael are members For over 30 years now, Asplundh of Clay Electric and James has been the general has played a part in serving the co-op’s foreperson for the co-op for about a year. vegetation management needs. For 28 of those years, Clay Electric’s Vegetation Management (VM) Superintendent Rus Lott has been involved in the co-op’s line clearance work. He currently leads a team of two VM inspectors, plus a coordinator and a specialist, who oversee Asplundh and other VM contractors on the system. Mr. Lott and his team are all ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialists® and licensed herbicide applicators so they understand, and require their contractors to apply, the best management practices for an effective and efficient integrated vegetation management (IVM) program. p Chip Truck Leader John Stevens (L) adjust controls while Groundperson Chad Villines (center) feeds the Heading up the day-to-day operations chipper and Trimmer Michael Moore (R) gathers of the Asplundh team serving Clay Electric p Asplundh is always proud to be more brush and limbs. There is plenty of pruning and is General Foreperson James Williams, able to participate in Clay Electric’s chipping to do in this part of Florida, between a long who works under Supervisor Gary Annual Meeting in the spring. It’s growing season and a number of invasive plants such Henderson and Manager Dave Craddock. a chance to display the crews’ as kudzu and air potato vines, as well as mimosa, On average during the year, there are safety equipment and tools, as chinaberry, wild cherry and Chinese tallow trees. That’s eight bucket crews, two mechanical well as reach out to members to why Clay Electric inspects all of their distribution lines trimming crews, two spray and one answer questions or simply get to mid-cycle and their transmission lines twice a year to substation mowing crew working in the know folks. Supporting the co-op keep on top of any high-risk trees and vines that may co-op’s six districts. Mr. Lott says each community is important to Asplundh. threaten the reliability of their power lines. district has at least one Asplundh crew assigned, but there is also at least one crew on call for after hours and urgent Approximately 75% of the Asplundh restoration process. Their hard work in pre-cycle work. team are Clay Electric members difficult circumstances, sometimes with In addition to routine on-cycle pruning, themselves, so they are especially their own homes and families affected, removals and herbicide work, Mr. Lott committed to maintaining safe, reliable is appreciated. explained that Asplundh crews have also and affordable power. In the aftermath Having shared goals and values is what been called in for capital clearing projects of severe storms like Hurricane Irma makes the Asplundh and Clay Electric due to economic growth in various last fall, Mr. Lott commented on the vital relationship work. districts in recent years. part the crews play in the co-op’s storm

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 7 A LONG-STANDING CONNECTION TO LINE CONSTRUCTION hile Asplundh is celebrating its 90th year t This photo of an unknown of specializing in utility Utilities Line Construction W Co. (ULCO) crew and truck vegetation management services, many of our readers may not be aware that was published in the August the three founding Asplundh brothers, 1952 issue of the company’s newsletter, Hi-Lines and Griffith, Lester and Carl, also created Hi-Lights, asking readers a separate utility line construction and to help identify the employees maintenance company 82 years ago. in this image from the early Opened for business in 1936, it was simply days of the company. A steel named Utilities Line Construction Co. strike had just ended and Over the next 40-plus years, “ULCO” the caption joked about the as it was nicknamed, grew to serve more need to put old trucks like than 70 investor-owned, rural electric this into service if the strike had continued. With Jenkintown, Pennsylvania painted on the door, one cooperative and municipal utilities, as well can speculate that ULCO and Asplundh probably shared equipment development and tool resources from the beginning. as telephone companies, in the Northeast, Southeast and Midwest. Shared Resources When ULCO was established, the nation was pulling itself out of the Great Depression and the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 had just been enacted. The economy and industry needed electric power as much as people wanted it to make daily life easier. Although Asplundh’s expertise in line clearance tree work had been established as of 1928, the founders now saw an opportunity for growth in the electric and telephone line construction and maintenance market. They opted to keep that risk within a separate company, ULCO, but some administrative and repair shop resources were shared between the companies, which were both p Before the days of 120-ton cranes and based in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. tracked digger derricks, this photo of a ULCO p In the early 1960s, aerial lifts were not Starting out with overhead electric crew erecting a transmission pole near Warren, available everywhere so ULCO lineworkers distribution and telephone line Ohio appeared in the March 1952 issue of regularly climbed utility poles and structures services, ULCO eventually graduated Hi-Lines and Hi-Lights, a newsletter for to accomplish their work. In 1963, ULCO to transmission line and substation employees which was first published on a monthly designed its own versatile line truck that work as demand for electricity and basis in August 1948. could be equipped with or without a lift. telecommunications grew through World War II and after. However, the energy crisis during the The Line Construction Services (ULCS), based in Delaware, was 1970s, which saw major increases in fuel Connection Today acquired and the Tree Co.’s construction prices and stagnant business growth, operations in the Southeast gradually In 1990, Asplundh began expanding made it difficult for ULCO to remain became part of this company. its construction operations in the in business. By 1981, the company was Northeast through the acquisition of B&J In 2004, UtiliCon Solutions was liquidated and a relatively small amount of Maintenance Co., which was renamed established as our infrastructure services line construction work continued within Asplundh Construction two years later. holding company, and both Asplundh the Tree Co. in parts of the Southeast, In 2000, Utility Lines Construction Construction and ULCS became part of Middle Atlantic and New England.

The Asplundh TREE 8 Summer 2018 Some ‘Hi-Lights’ from ULCS in the Midwest

t ULCO started out only building and maintaining distribution lines, but as electrical demand grew in the 1940s during and after World War II, the company expanded into steel lattice tower construction for transmission lines. This photo of a ULCO tower crew from the early 1960s shows the amount of physical work (without much mechanical assistance) that was involved in aligning the transmission tower structure.

p Congratulations to this high performing u ULCO had always specialized in overhead team of lineworkers from the Rod LeBeau distribution and transmission line work, but in Region of ULCS in Michigan! They won fifth 1960 the Asplundh Service Co. was established place out of 23 utility contractor teams who as a subsidiary within the Tree Co. to handle the competed in the International Lineman’s increasing demand for underground cable laying Rodeo held October 11-13, 2017 in Bonner for electric and telephone lines, as well as phone Springs, Kansas. Displaying their plaques booth installations. This was the start of offering at the awards ceremony were (L to R): “Asplundh” line construction services, as opposed Journeyman Lineworker Steven Albert and to keeping them within a separate company. Construction Forepersons Jeremy Polash and Clayton Byerly. They were one of three teams fielded by ULCS, two from Michigan and one from Iowa. All of them work on the ITC system.

t A 1971 ULCO promotional brochure, marking the company’s 35th anniversary, expressed pride in employing over 1,000 people and maintaining a fleet of more than 500 vehicles. It also promoted a diverse array of overhead electric distribution, transmission and substation construction and maintenance services, as well as underground residential distribution (URD) construction, much like our construction subsidiaries offer today.

p Back in February, ULCS Journeyman that organization. Five years later, three maintenance and engineering services for Lineworker Travis Weis captured this companies in the South were acquired, overhead and underground electric, gas cool image of his coworker, Journeyman including Musgrove Construction in and telecommunications clients. Lineworker Nick Mahoney of the Rod Florida and Highlines Construction based LeBeau Region, working almost 250 As we look back over Asplundh’s past in Louisiana, which now does business feet above the Mississippi River and the 90 years, we can take pride in a long-time under the ULCS name. Advanced Power community of Camanche, Iowa. As part of connection to the line construction and & Lighting, based in Tennessee, was their maintenance work for ITC, they were maintenance field, as well as our history of acquired in 2011. All of these subsidiaries tightening any loose nuts and bolts on this work on the trees near power lines! offer a wide range of construction, 345kV steel lattice tower.

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 9 FROMTHEARCHIVES s part of the company’s 90th anniversary this year, we thought it would be a fun to dig into the archives A and pull out a few interesting items about the way work was done in “the good ol’ days”.

Although Asplundh has always been in the forefront of equipment innovation, sometimes “The Better Way” (a company slogan for many years) might actually be quite low tech. Take the problem of mountainous terrain and the weight of herbicide mixture in containers. A look back into past issues of The Asplundh TREE magazine turned up a brief story in the Autumn 1965 issue about a horse—equipment designation “Charlie”—that was engaged by the Equipment Department for a summer spray job in New England. Charlie was perfect for hauling “chemical” (as it was called back then) up and over the p Maintaining a right-of-way with selectively-applied herbicides mountains in which the spray crew was working. has been the Asplundh way for decades. Back in the 1960s, before A few years later, a very cooperative mule named “Rhoda” the development of UTVs, rough terrain was an extreme challenge was hired and outfitted to carry two stainless steel beer kegs for spray crews on foot. The answer back then was a mule named that were retrofitted to hold herbicide along with a powered “Rhoda,” who is shown above carrying her specially-retrofitted backpack sprayer. She made it possible for the spray crew to be stainless steel beer kegs full of herbicide mixture. The fuel for this efficient, productive and highly mobile in rugged terrain. “vehicle” was very green, low cost and generally plentiful along the trail to a right-of-way! In the Autumn 1975 issue, it was a very conscientious and hard-working mule named “Chico” who was able to haul t Spray Foreperson herbicide up into the mountains of Shenandoah National Park William Cave (R) and in Virginia for a spray crew working on a Potomac Edison Crew Member Henry right-of-way. The article reported that he carried 10 gallons Woodward (L) are each trip up the mountain. Chico could carry 20 gallons per trip shown here in 1975 on less rough terrain and, on an average, he hauled 100 gallons with a mule named per day. As an added plus, the labor rates were very reasonable “Chico.” They were for this “employee”! getting ready to In the Autumn 1989 issue, Chico appeared once again as a load him up with retiree in Luray, Virginia, living on the farm of Barney Jones, supplies for their a former Asplundh employee. Barney admitted to treating his crew members Virgil retired friend (called Jack Asplundh by some) to his favorite Gochenour, Harry foods—cake and donuts. Buracker and Nelson Cave, who were Today, hauling herbicide and tools, as well as crew members, working on a Potomac into hard-to-access terrain is handled by various types of utility Edison right-of-way in the mountains of Shenandoah National Park task vehicles (UTVs). These machines are extremely useful and in Virginia. Chico’s packs could hold up to 20 gallons of herbicide, but labor-saving, but they probably don’t get names like Charlie, hilly, rugged terrain meant it was safer for him to carry just 10 gallons Rhoda and Chico! at a time. Still, Chico averaged about 100 gallons hauled per day!

u In recent years, the UTV is the “mule”, as well as the crew transportation of choice, for Asplundh’s off-road spray and tree crews. With the addition of a highly-engineered spraying system and a state-of-the-art computer application, this UTV spray rig in the François Desjardins Region of Asplundh Canada was well equipped for a Hydro Quebec pilot project that took place in August 2016. At right, Supervisor Vincent Poitras is shown calibrating the Raven Slingshot® computer system, which controls the Radiarc® sprayer mounted in the bed of the UTV. The computer controls the rate of herbicide applied per acre or hectare, tracks the treatment locations and keeps a record of all the data. All of that adds up to a pretty smart mule nowadays!

The Asplundh TREE 10 Summer 2018 MANAGEMENTUPDATE NEWVICEPRESIDENTSELECTED Rickey Bailey, manager of Asplundh in his home state of Florida. In 2005, David was promoted to operations in Alabama and parts of Florida, supervisor and six years later, he advanced to district area manager. South Carolina and Mississippi, was elected vice In October 2012, he was promoted to region manager, responsible president in April. Sponsor Doug Roof has for Asplundh operations on the properties of various investor-owned, oversight of the Bailey Region under Executive municipal and rural electric cooperative accounts in parts of Vice President Matt Asplundh. Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Florida and A 44-year Asplundh veteran, Rickey started has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 1997. David has received out on a climbing crew in Alabama in 1974. He corporate recognition several times for control of equipment costs, progressed through the ranks to general foreperson in 1987 and seven outstanding safety, operational excellence, and leadership. years later, he advanced to supervisor. In 2009, he was promoted to manager and currently oversees Asplundh tree crews on the properties of Alabama Power Co., South Carolina Electric & Gas and various Wilmer McWhirter, manager of municipal and rural electric cooperative accounts in Alabama, Florida Asplundh operations in Georgia, was elected and Mississippi. Rickey has been recognized by the company several vice president in April. The McWhirter Region times for outstanding storm response, control of equipment costs, and is sponsored by Executive Vice President safety. In addition to being an ISA Certified Arborist for over 20 years, Gregg Asplundh. he is a member of the ISA Southern Chapter, the Alabama Rural Born and raised in Georgia, Wilmer joined Electric Association and the Alabama Urban Forestry Association. an Asplundh tree crew in 1985 after working more than 10 years for Winn Dixie, Inc., where he had been an assistant manager. Within four years, he advanced David Fulford, manager of Asplundh to general foreperson, and in 1998, he was promoted to supervisor. operations in parts of Colorado, New Mexico Wilmer was named manager of Asplundh vegetation management and Texas, was elected vice president in April. operations in Georgia in 2005 and currently oversees crews working Vice President Jim Hines sponsors the Fulford on the properties of Georgia Power Co. and various municipal and Region under Executive Vice President electric membership corporations in the state. He is a member of Matt Asplundh. the ISA Southern Chapter and the Georgia Vegetation Management David joined the company as a general Association. Wilmer has been recognized by the company several foreperson in Colorado in 2003. He came times for outstanding safety performance, storm response, and aboard with seven years of experience with a tree service company operational excellence. NEWMANAGERSINTHEFIELDANDHOMEOFFICE

Dan Oberlies joined the Asplundh Kevin Styles, previously a supervisor in the Corporate Safety Department in November Asplundh Railroad Division, was promoted to 2017 as a corporate safety director under Vice manager of the division in January. He reports President of Corporate Safety Bruce Mellott. The to Sponsor Randal Haines under Executive department is sponsored by President / Chief Vice President Matt Asplundh. Operating Officer George Graham. Kevin started out on an Asplundh tree crew Dan came aboard with over 20 years of in his home state of North Carolina in 1985. experience in the utility line clearance industry, Within seven years, he had advanced to including two years as an Asplundh safety supervisor from 2000 to general foreperson, and in 2005, he was promoted to regional safety 2002. He has held leadership positions in risk management, safety, superintendent (RSS). Kevin transferred as an RSS to the Railroad fleet, and operations management. Dan is currently responsible Division in 2012, and the following year, he advanced to supervisor for identifying safety performance trends within assigned regions over various accounts in the U.S. and Canada. As a manager, he is in the western half of the U.S., and supporting them with training responsible for overseeing Asplundh’s safe and productive mechanical, and other safety programs. He earned a bachelor’s degree from manual and spray operations for railroad systems of all sizes Villanova University in Pennsylvania and an MBA from the University throughout North America. In addition to numerous railroad industry of Rochester in New York. Dan also received the professional courses, Kevin is a graduate of both the Management Leadership designation of Associate of Risk Management. Academy and the Asplundh Supervisory Training Program.

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 11 NEWSUPERVISORSINTHEFIELD Kevin Boerner, former superintendent in Cheyenne Hartzell, previously a general Michigan was promoted to supervisor there foreperson in Idaho, advanced to supervisor under Manager Kris Keefer in November 2017. there under Manager Jon-Paul Paulsen in Sponsor Shawn Shapiro has oversight of the November 2017. Sponsor Shawn Shapiro Keefer Region in Michigan under Executive has oversight of the Paulsen Region under Vice President Gregg Asplundh. Executive Vice President Matt Asplundh. Kevin first came to work for Asplundh in his Born and raised in Idaho, Cheyenne joined home state of Michigan in 2002. Within Asplundh in February 2017 as a general three years, he advanced to general foreperson. Due to a contract foreperson with 12 years of experience in utility line clearance. change in 2009, he gained experience at two other vegetation He came aboard to help Asplundh start a new operation on the management contractor companies where he became a regional Idaho Power system and now, as the supervisor, he is responsible safety superintendent and later, superintendent. Kevin returned to for overseeing distribution crews working in three divisions and Asplundh in June 2017 and now, as a supervisor, he is responsible transmission crews working in two divisions. Cheyenne is a for overseeing crews working on ITC Transmission in Michigan. He November 2017 graduate of the General Foreperson Training is a Certified Treecare Safety Professional and a graduate of three Program, a 2010 graduate of a four-week tree science and climbing corporate professional development programs since 2006. program, and a licensed herbicide applicator.

Clyde Bowen, previously a production Tom Jensen, former superintendent in superintendent in eastern Kentucky, advanced Iowa, was promoted to supervisor under to supervisor there under Manager Bobby King Manager Joe Sterbenz in January. Sponsor in November 2017. Executive Vice President Doug Roof has oversight of the Sterbenz Chris Asplundh, Jr. sponsors the King Region in Region under Executive Vice President this part of Kentucky. Matt Asplundh. A 27-year Asplundh veteran, Clyde started out With prior experience in utility line clearance, on a tree crew in his home state of Kentucky Tom joined the company as a foreperson in 1991. Rising through the ranks over the next eight years, he was in 2010. From 2012 to 2014, he left to run his own home rehab promoted to general foreperson in 1999. Clyde became a production business, but then returned to Asplundh and advanced to general superintendent in 2015 and now, as a supervisor, he oversees foreperson in 2015. Tom was promoted to superintendent last Asplundh tree crews working on the Kentucky Power Co. system in year and now, as a supervisor, he is responsible for overseeing both the Pikeville District. He is a graduate of the October 2001 Asplundh distribution and transmission crews working on the MidAmerican Supervisory Training Program and June 2008 General Foreperson Energy system in Iowa. A September 2016 graduate of the General Professional Development Program, as well as a licensed herbicide Foreperson Training Program, Tom is an ISA Certified Arborist Utility applicator in the state of Kentucky. Specialist and first-aid / CPR instructor.

Sean Graziano, former corporate safety Rickey Smith, previously a general trainer, was promoted to supervisor in Utah foreperson in North Carolina, advanced to and Nevada under Manager Jeff Vining supervisor under Manager Matthew Pence in October 2017. Vice President Jim Hines in January. The Pence Region is sponsored by sponsors the Vining Region under Executive Executive Vice President Gregg Asplundh. Vice President Matt Asplundh. A 28-year Asplundh veteran, Rickey started Sean first joined an Asplundh climbing crew in out on a climbing crew in his home state Arizona in 2004. Four years later, he advanced of North Carolina in 1990. He progressed to general foreperson and in 2010, he joined the Corporate Safety through the ranks to general foreperson in 1999. As a supervisor, Department as a trainer. In 2014, Sean left the company to work as Rickey is responsible for overseeing tree crews working on the an operations manager for a residential tree service, but returned to properties of Duke Energy and various rural electric cooperative and training for Corporate Safety the following year. As a supervisor in municipal accounts in both North and South Carolina. A graduate the Vining Region, he oversees Asplundh crews working on various of the March 2001 Asplundh Supervisory Training Program, he is municipal contracts in Utah and on the NV Energy system in Nevada. also an ISA Certified Arborist Utility Specialist and licensed pesticide Sean is an ISA Certified Arborist, holds the ISA Tree Risk Assessment applicator. Rickey is a member of the North Carolina and South Qualification, and is a Certified Treecare Safety Professional. He also Carolina Vegetation Management Associations, as well as Trees SC consults and volunteers for the Utah Community Forestry Council. and the North Carolina Urban Forest Council.

The Asplundh TREE 12 Summer 2018 Congratulations and best wishes for a happy and healthy RETIREES retirement to all the retirees listed here! HONORED Ray Adams Donald Gardner Vernon Robinson Patricia Smith Office Administrator, Kansas Crew Leader, Pennsylvania Foreperson, North Carolina Administrative Assistant, First employed March 1977 First employed June 1976 First employed October 1993 Mississippi Retired January 2018 Retired December 2017 (plus 26 years with Wilson First employed October 2004 Tree Co.) Retired September 2017 Alejandro Alvez David Harper Retired September 2017 Trimmer, Florida Foreperson, Ohio Roger Stout First employed April 2010 First employed January 2002 Bernabe Rosado Foreperson, Pennsylvania Retired March 2018 Retired January 2018 Trimmer, New York First employed April 1985 First employed November 1999 Retired March 2018 Norman Chitwood, Sr. Cullis Hartman Retired February 2018 Equipment Operator, Journeyman, West Virginia Dennis Van Curen South Carolina First employed January 2005 Jessie Rose Journeyman, Ohio First employed September 2015 Retired November 2017 Foreperson, Virginia First employed June 2005 Retired December 2017 First employed January 1998 Retired January 2018 Carl Lane Retired January 2018 Keith Ebert Foreperson, South Carolina Lloyd Wade Foreperson, Ohio First employed April 2010 Lorryann Ryan Equipment Operator, Washington First employed May 2004 Retired November 2017 Direct Deposit Administrator First employed July 1993 Retired December 2017 Willow Grove, Pennsylvania Retired January 2018 Michael Normandy First employed December 1993 Davy Elborn, Sr. American Electrical Testing Retired March 2018 Carlyle Ward Foreperson, Maryland Sr. Test Technician, New York Work Planner, North Carolina First employed July 2000 First employed February 2012 Joseph Schilling First employed January 2000 Retired March 2018 Retired December 2017 Trimmer, Pennsylvania Retired December 2017 First employed June 1998 John Elliott Luther Nottingham Retired December 2017 Eddie Webb Spray Foreperson, Washington Journeyman, West Virginia General Foreperson, First employed April 1992 First employed February 1999 Ricky Schuh North Carolina Retired November 2017 Retired December 2017 Foreperson, Wisconsin First employed April 1978 First employed September 1975 Retired January 2018 Tim Frank James Powell Retired December 2017 Supervisor, Illinois General Foreperson, Kentucky First employed February 1992 First employed March 1973 Retired January 2018 Retired January 2018 SPECIALRETIREMENTHONORS

George Licci, vice president and chief Vicki Wilson, assistant head of the administration officer in the Willow Grove Payroll Department at the company Home Office, joined the ranks of the headquarters in Willow Grove, stepped into retired on January 6. Born and raised in her new position as a retiree on January 6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, George joined It was sure to be a big change after 44 Asplundh in 1998 to serve as controller and years with Asplundh. She first came to manager of Corporate Accounting. He came work for the company as an employment aboard with over 20 years of management slip clerk in 1973 with two years of prior and accounting experience. In 2008, George experience at a major insurance company. was named manager of Corporate Administration, responsible for the After a leave of absence in 1977, Vicki returned to Asplundh as a operations and budgeting for eight Home Office departments. Two payroll input operator in 1978. Five years later, she was promoted to years later, he was elected vice president and in 2015, he became supervisor of billing input and in 1987, she transferred to the Customer the company’s first chief administration officer. A cake and ice cream & Field Liaison Department as an account coordinator. Vicki returned retirement celebration was held for George (and Vicki Wilson) at the to Input Operations with a promotion to assistant department head Home Office on January 4, allowing everyone to say their farewells. in 1989. A cake and ice cream retirement celebration on January 4 Retirement for George and his wife, Sharon (who works in the IT gave her coworkers a chance to show their appreciation for her role in Department), means more time for family, woodworking, traveling, making sure that thousands of employees receive on-time and accurate cooking and exercise. Enjoy that well-deserved retirement, George! paychecks each week. Here’s to a healthy and happy retirement, Vicki!

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 13 MORERETIREESHONORED t When Foreperson Rich t General Foreperson Frank Dietz (L) of the Ed House Gosnell, Sr. (third from R) was Region in Illinois retired on presented with farewell gifts from December 29, 2017, he Manager Mark Williams (second didn’t know that a surprise from R) in recognition of his dinner was planned in his retirement on January 5. Frank’s honor for January 27. That nearly 20-year Asplundh career night Manager Ed House (R) was spent leading tree crews on the was among the many Southeastern Indiana REMC system coworkers and three IBEW (SEIREMC). Joining in the occasion Local 9 business agents who had worked with him over the were (L to R): General Foreperson Roger Hinton, Supervisor Tim Steele, SEIREMC past 47 years on the Commonwealth Edison system. Ed Forester Assistant George Bultman, Frank, Mark and SEIREMC Forester Randy presented a plaque to Rich in appreciation of his dedicated Holman. SEIREMC expressed special appreciation for Frank’s tree and equipment service and thanked his wife and family for pulling off the expertise, as well as people skills. He plans to spend his retirement hunting, fishing surprise event. Congratulations on your retirement, Rich! and enjoying the great outdoors. We wish Frank all the best in the years to come!

t Along with a handshake t Foreperson Tony Sandfer of appreciation, General (seated) was the guest of Foreperson Chuck Moretz (R) honor at a luncheon held on received an engraved watch February 8 in Elizabethtown, from Vice President Larry Kentucky where Manager Kirk (L) to commemorate Bobby King (R) presented him his 37 years of service as he with a specially-engraved retired on January 5. Fellow 30-year watch and wished general forepersons and him well as he entered representatives from retirement. Tony worked his Appalachian Power Co. in entire Asplundh career on the Virginia gathered to honor him at a dinner on January 3 to celebrate property of Kentucky Utilities Transmission Group. Adding their own his career. Supervisor Pat O’Connor commented that Chuck made congratulations and appreciation that day were Supervisors Jeff Holder (L) many contributions to the Kirk Region and was pleased to report that and Mike King (center), as well as RSS Bill Johnson who snapped this his retirement plans include enjoying his grandchildren and bowling in photo. We hear that retirement should offer Tony more time for one of a local league. Here’s to many years of retirement happiness, Chuck! his favorite activities—fishing. Please join us in wishing him plenty of big catches and extra relaxation in his retirement! t On March 23, Supervisor Ellen Mattox (seated), who worked in the Computer Operations section of the Information Technology (IT) Department, was surprised by a group of her coworkers with a bouquet of flowers and a gift card to wish her well on her last day at the Willow Grove Home Office before retiring. Ellen joined the company in January 1989 as an input operator in the Payroll Department. She transferred to IT in 1993 as a data entry operator and was promoted to supervisor the following year. Ellen worked under Financial Systems Manager Pete Pellicone (on her immediate R) for many years and she was responsible for running a variety of financial, billing and payroll reports. We wish you good health and happiness in your retirement, Ellen!

INMEMORIAM

Bruce Bennett, a 46-year Asplundh veteran and former Equipment Department manager, passed away on January 9 in Warminster, Pennsylvania at the age of 88. Bruce first came to work in the company’s equipment repair shop in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania in 1946. He eventually became a driver, delivering trucks, chippers and tools throughout the U.S. Bruce was then promoted to assistant shop manager and in 1963, he transferred to the Equipment Department. In 1972, he advanced to equipment manager and 17 years later, he was given a new position as an assistant to then Executive Vice President Carl Asplundh, Jr. (now retired), acting as a liaison between the Equipment Department and the Manufacturing Division. Bruce retired in 1992. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 49 years, Phyl, and is survived by their three sons, James, Dana and Gary, and two grandchildren. For several years, both Phyl and Gary also worked for Asplundh and Gary continues to work in the Fleet Services Department. May fond memories be a comfort to Bruce’s family and all who knew him!

The Asplundh TREE 14 Summer 2018 Orchids Letters and telephone calls were received complimenting the following forepersons and their crews working on the property of the utility or organization listed below the employees’ names. This listing covers all Orchids that were received in the Corporate Communications Department between October 16, 2017 and February 9, 2018. For their outstanding job performance or special volunteer efforts, we say ... Thank you and congratulations!

ALABAMA Benton, and Groundperson the Chipper” Christmas tree power line relocation project in ULCS Foreperson Lineworker Daven Beck, recycling event, South Higgins State Park Wesley Mordecai and Grand Valley Power Georgia Power Consumers Energy Groundperson Eli Gingerich, Trimmers ULCS Foreperson Lineworker MINNESOTA Patrick Poulter, James Bray and Terry Jeff Mason, Lineworkers Alabama Power Speicher, Jr., and Travis Gowey, Anthony Joel Behm, Apprentice Jerry Sanchez, Hooper and Taylor Visi, Xcel Energy ARIZONA San Miguel Power Association and Lineworker Apprentice Steve Calabrese and Donald Allen and Rodrigo Cole Smith, Trimmers Jonathan O’Gara Munoz-Aguayo, and Crews, Raymond Merino and Trimmer Dallas Harrington, Jackson EMC and Phillip Svenkeson, Arizona Public Service Connexus Energy Yampa Valley Electric IOWA Andres Dominguez and Craig Jones and Trimmer Michael Powell, Cory Dezena and Colten Groundperson Koby Jones, Charles Schneider, Salt River Project Trimmer Ryan Jones Kelsheimer, Trimmer Perry and Groundperson Klave and Journeyman Xcel Energy Matt McClurg and Brandon Costales, Chad Idso, Sean O’Neil and Shaun Groundperson Gab Guillen, Colorado Springs Utilities MidAmerican Energy Sutherland, and Gila River Indian Community Trimmers Jessica Riggs Victor Fuentes and Utility Authority CONNECTICUT and Dustin Stewart, Apprentice Justin Aguirre, Journeyman Simon Mark Kenowksi and Justin Connexus Energy Lewis, and Groundperson MidAmerican Energy Pena and Groundperson Doug Olsen and Shad Jake Dastous, for helping a Keith Terrell, MARYLAND Smith, and Trimmers Bill Salt River Project homeowner in Tolland, who had recently lost her father, raise Tommy Robinette, for Higgins, Ryan Johnson and Cody Stevens and secure an 17-foot-tall Santa purchasing an alternator for an Clare Waldoch, and Groundperson decoration in her yard during elderly gentleman whose car Connexus Energy had broken down and he didn’t Rafael Gonzalez, their lunch break, Trimmers Garrett Remker have the money to repair it, Arizona Public Service Eversource Energy and Andrew Yotter, Baltimore Gas & Electric General Foreperson Dustin General Foreperson Xcel Energy Stevens, Foreperson Justin William Portal, Foreperson MICHIGAN MISSOURI Welker and Groundperson Edwin Montes-Torres General Forepersons Aaron Anderson Steven Wagner, and Crews, Jason Hiser and Edward and Jeremy Tinsley, Arizona Public Service United Illuminating Tobey, Forepersons Eric Trimmer Ray Masner and Colmus, Curt Hiser, Sam Raymundo Valencia, Jr., Groundperson Dustin Cody, GEORGIA Merchant, Rocky Peacock Trimmer Christopher City Utilities of Springfield Wagner and Groundperson Jeffery Bolenbaugh and and Steven Ryckman, Steven Wagner, Stephen Deacon, Trimmers Journeyman Matt French MONTANA Bryce Miller and Edward and Groundpersons Josh Arizona Public Service Nic Myers, Apprentice Roach, and Groundperson Lapworth and Bryan Smith, Tyler Patterson, for their for their professionalism and Patrick Charland and COLORADO Groundperson Joe Stokes, Jarrett August and James assistance with the City of communication during the Valdosta’s “Bring One for removal of 500 trees for a Avista Utilities

From an e-mail to Manager Jeff Vining regarding work on Gila River From an e-mail to ULCS Vice President Jim Marsh about the work of a Indian Community Utility Authority (GRICUA) property in Arizona: crew working for Jackson EMC in Georgia: “... I’d like to let you know what a great job that [Foreperson] Matt “... Back in August, [Foreperson Lineworker] Jeff Mason stopped by McClurg and his helper [Groundperson] Gab Guillen have done for our house to give us a heads-up that ULCS would be changing out the GRICUA. GRICUA has a large, fairly remote service area. ... Over the last Jackson EMC distribution pole in our backyard. ... I asked if he could several years, Matt has become familiar with the area, GRICUA needs coordinate the job with me so that I could ensure our two dogs were and customer interfaces. He did a great job again this year. We haven’t not in the backyard, and of course he said that he would. ... When the received a single call or concern related to Matt’s work. ... Thanks to crew left our yard you couldn’t even tell they had been there at all. ... Asplundh, and especially Matt, for a successful trim cycle.” You should be very proud of these men as they represent ULCS with the Kathy Galloway, Operations Director, GRICUA highest level of dedication and professionalism.” Chris Wessels, Assistant Chief, Atlanta Fire Rescue

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 15 Orchids – October 16, 2017 through February 9, 2018

NEVADA Logan Campbell, Work Planner Michael Silver, OREGON Travis Hettinger and City of Farmington Foreperson Brian Beck and Foreperson Chris Romeo Trimmer Gage Warkentin, Trimmer Jerry Martin, and Crew, Nevada Power NEW YORK Duke Energy Portland General Electric General Foreperson Jonathan General Foreperson Vern General Foreperson Harry Swain, Foreperson Lucas Walker, Forepersons PENNSYLVANIA Markussen, Forepersons Babcock and Trimmers Justin Gerardo Aguayo, Ryan Nathan Edwards, Jesse David Lee and Crew, Charles and Scott Johnson, Nelson and Danny Pleasant, PECO Omalza, Adrian Richards NYSEG and Jeremy Simons, Journeyman Tony Thaxton Mark Ruhl and Crew, Trimmers Ben Casey, General Foreperson Ryan and Groundpersons Caleb Northwestern Rural Electric Kathrine Rieger and Austin Teichs, Crew Leaders Donevan, Tre’Marques Sublett, and Groundperson Alvardo Palacios and Marco Sanford and Clinton Sykes, TEXAS Alberto Gonzalez-Ramirez, Sarmiento, Trimmer Duke Energy Progress General Foreperson NV Energy Frank Zaccaro, Jr. and General Foreperson Travis Marshall Duncan, Groundperson James West, Foreperson Mark Forepersons Neftali for quickly making a NEW BRUNSWICK Harris, Moody and Crew, Acosta-Morales, Jose work zone safe so 140 students Project Foreperson Scott Duke Energy Hernandez and Brian Johnson and Crew, from Rye Neck Middle School Lemuel, Trimmers NB Power could continue their walk to the NOVA SCOTIA Terrance Danridge and John Jay Estate for a field trip, General Foreperson Matt Matt McMillian, and NEW HAMPSHIRE Con Edison Fradsham, Foreperson Scott Groundperson Emiliano Roy Holt, Jr. and Crew, Eric Thoman and Crew, Walker and Groundperson Dela Rosa, New Hampshire Electric Co-op. National Grid Trevor Corkum, Austin Energy Jesse Monahan, William Eastlink General Forepersons Thompson, IV, and Kris NORTH CAROLINA Freddy Hernandez and Wiley, and Crews, General Foreperson OHIO Jayson Skidmore, Work Eversource Energy William Dooley and Crews, General Foreperson Planner Les Johnson, Duke Energy Tim Dickerson, Work Foreperson Jacob Meredith Cody Palmer and Trimmer Planner Corey Gill, General Foreperson and Crews, Mike Dupont, Foreperson Austin William Dooley, Austin Energy Eversource Energy Frederick, Trimmers Forepersons Brian Leak and Jon Barker and Jody Gill, General Foreperson Jaime Brian Perham and Crew, Derrick Locklear, Trimmers and Groundperson Lagunas, Foreperson Juan New Hampshire Electric Co-op. David Boedges and Wiley Micah Krosnicki, Gaitan and Journeyman Hill, and Groundpersons Brian Perham and Trimmer AEP Ohio Herson Segovia, Brendan Ladd, Charles Clark, Adrian CenterPoint Energy New Hampshire Electric Co-op. Jacobs, Anthony Locklear, Mike Park and Crew, Justin McEachern, Jeremiah Guernsey-Muskingum Work Planner Sydnie NEW MEXICO Maynor and Terry Quick, Electric Cooperative Tafolla, for going the extra Duke Energy mile to meet with home owners General Foreperson Jose to discuss line clearance work, Munguia, Job Planner David ONTARIO General Foreperson Kevin Austin Energy Matta, and Trimmers Toy Jackson, for helping to reunite General Foreperson Dave Madril and Lex Moffitt, a lost dog with its owner, Weatherall and Foreperson VERMONT Xcel Energy Duke Energy Andrew Trepanier, for helping an elderly woman walk Dave Johnson and Shane General Foreperson Wilson Supervisor Kenny Melton, through the snow to get to her Noble, and Trimmers Paul Wood, Foreperson Adam General Forepersons Nick arts and crafts group meeting, Johnson and Matt Tobin, Lopez and Groundpersons Gile and Robert Ward, City of Ottawa Green Mountain Power Trey Burch and and Crews, Duke Energy

From an e-mail to the Mike Zehler Region in Whitney Point, New York From an e-mail to the Home Office in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania about the work of General Foreperson Jonathan Swain and regarding Asplundh Canada General Foreperson Matt Fradsham, Crew for NYSEG: Foreperson Scott Walker and Groundperson Trevor Corkum from the “ I am writing to officially thank [Trimmer] Scott Johnson and his crew for Steve Christiansen Region, and their work for Eastlink in Nova Scotia: their conscientious, skillful and fastidious work on our property just before “... They had to bring their truck into a very tight spot and then remove the Thanksgiving. ... Many trees [were] taken out, several electric poles had to be two sections of tree, both of which were ... hanging over the edge of our roof accessed, and tree stands removed, trimmed or avoided. Scott’s crew was right above our new heat pump. They cleared everything off the roof with consistently thoughtful and creative in managing through the obstacles to no damage to the pump or the shingles, in the dark. We were all amazed produce a result that left our land as good or better than they found it—all in at their skill. They were also extremely polite and very understanding of two days time—working quickly and skillfully to complete the job.” our neighbor’s concerns about having the truck on his driveway. ” Ted Hayek Margaret Galbraith

The Asplundh TREE 16 Summer 2018 Orchids – October 16, 2017 through February 9, 2018

David Nicholas and Halvorson, Luke Hodsdon John Jennings, Jr. and Eric the power restoration efforts Brandon Perry, Trimmer and Dustin Karpinski, Nott, and Journeyman following a powerful coastal Chris Wandeloski Alliant Energy Lineworker Steve Schuberg storm on October 29, and Groundperson (IA/MI), for their “rock star” RSS Kurt Pilz and National Grid (RI) Conor Morway, caliber hard work and efforts Superintendent Mike to go above and beyond while November 2017 Green Mountain Power for leading an Friese, restoring power in the Turks outstanding chain saw safety Asplundh Construction General Foreperson and Caicos Islands following demonstration in November, Forepersons Jason Lockton Gene Ouellet, Sr., Hurricane Irma, Forepersons Anthony Madison Gas & Electric and Kevin Panilaitis, Collard and David Nicholas, FortisTCI (TCI) and Crews, for exceeding Trimmer Brandon Perry STORM WORK expectations and becoming the October 2017 “go to” crews during several and Groundperson Hurricane Irma Christopher Wandeloski, Supervisor Sean MacPhee, weather restoration events in Green Mountain Power General Foreperson Jimmy Eric Walker, Trimmer Tom the Torrington and Falls Village Bichard, Safety Trainer Carl Burns and Groundperson areas during November, VIRGINIA Scott Jacobs, Forepersons Brian Lemieux (VT), for Eversource Energy (CT) General Foreperson Ronald Ash, Tyler Ash and their hard work and excellent William Martin, Trimmer work ethic while helping to Asplundh Construction Rodney Carter and Crews, Lead Lineworker / for delivering loads of wood Austen Bookless and clear debris following a heavy Journeymen Bruce Colvin rain and wind storm, Foreperson Don Levesque chips to eager homeowners, and Apprentices John Kemp Northern Neck Electric Co-op. and James Mercer (OH/ National Grid (MA) WV), for their professionalism, and Tom Rice (MA/NH), General Foreperson Tony skill and charming attitudes Lee Thompson, III and for their hard work and kindly Garst, Foreperson Cody while working on the Hurricane Groundperson Bruce demeanor while interacting Linkous, Trimmer John Irma restoration in Miami, Hunter, for volunteering to with a young boy during the handle an additional trouble call power restoration efforts in the Marshall, Journeyman Florida Power & Light (FL) Benjamin Allen and following a heavy rain storm Glouster area following a strong Apprentice Justin Green, American Lighting and with hurricane force gusts so a coastal storm, Appalachian Power Signalization Manager homeowner’s power could be National Grid (RI) Richard Calledare and restored without having to wait WASHINGTON Lighting Technician Mario for an overnight tree crew to December 2017 for lowering 92% of Dennis Anderson, Trimmer Boccio, handle this issue, General Foreperson Adam the high mast lights within a Titus Benedict and Unitil (NH) Hildebrand and Crews, for 4-1/2 day period in preparation Apprentice Justin Johnson, their exceptional efforts to for Hurricane Irma’s arrival, Asplundh Construction Mason County PUD 3 Journeymen Ben Bobier support the Fraser Valley ice Broadspectrum (FL) and Chris Morton (NY), for storm restoration over the Crew Leader Larry New Year’s holiday, Whitney, Trimmer Junior General Forepersons Mike their spirit of helping others and BC Hydro (BC) Dickson and Apprentice Marcus and Justin Mason, desire to support the Hurricane for their Colter McKinnon, and Crews (VT), Maria power restoration efforts hard work on the Hurricane January 2018 Avista Utilities on Puerto Rico, Irma restoration despite hot PSEG Long Island (PR) Kevin Galbreath and John weather and adverse conditions, WEST VIRGINIA Asplundh Construction Connolly, for quickly and Ocala Electric Utilities (FL) Franklin Godby and District Area Manager professionally removing a large Trimmer Brandon Gill, ULCS General Jay Locke, General tree entangled in power lines Mon Power Foreperson Joe Beaver, Forepersons Shawn following the bomb cyclone that Foreperson Adam Tankersley and Eric struck New England on January 4, WISCONSIN Hughes, Transmission Williams, and Crews (MA/ National Grid (MA) Jason Ehr and Brandon Line Troublemen Jordan NH), for their outstanding Hintz, and Trimmers Tom Berte, Clayton Freiburger, work and safety ethics during

From an e-mail to the Home Office in Willow Grove concerning the From an e-mail to Asplundh Construction about Frank Giordano Region work of Joe Sterbenz Region Forepersons Jason Ehr and Brandon Hintz Journeymen Ben Bobier and Chris Morton working for PSEG Long Island and their Crews for Alliant Energy in Wisconsin: in Puerto Rico during the Hurricane Maria restoration in November: “... These guys did an amazing job removing my trees. [They] treated “... We want to thank your employees for all the work and effort [during] me and my property with the utmost respect. [They] not only acted in the reconstruction of the island after Hurricane Maria. My mother finally a very professional manner, taking all safety precautions, but the work had electricity back to her house after 80 days without power. ... We they performed was of such great quality that I ... complimented [them] know that this is part of your job and duties, but the employees that were multiple times. ...These men are a class act and an asset to your company. helping our neighborhood [yesterday] had something else: the spirit of Please extend my thanks to them again and thank you for providing this helping others and a true desire to [assist] in the reconstruction of our great team to perform public safety in our community.” island. These values are the core of all successful companies.” Marguerite Baumgartner Jesus Santiago-Perez

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 17 January – June SERVICE 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993 and 1998 ANNIVERSARIES

45YEARS

Ned Landis General Foreperson Pennsylvania

Gene Cooper Jack Johnston, Jr. Harry Stock, Jr. Work Planner Asst. General Foreperson Forester’s Assistant Kentucky Ohio Pennsylvania

40YEARS

Ronald Kasisky General Foreperson Pennsylvania

Jonathan Howells Doug McClure Dan Stubbs Foreperson Coordinator Supervisor Pennsylvania Alabama Ohio

35YEARS

Bernadette Kobol Charles Schultheis Supervisor Foreperson Field Accounting Pennsylvania Willow Grove

The Asplundh TREE 18 Summer 2018 30YEARS

Michael Brock Pam Collins Bruce Foote Sammy Fuller General Foreperson Office Manager Foreperson Foreperson South Carolina New York Massachusetts Alabama

Jose Gutierrez Frederic Johnson Edwin Knickerbocker Scott Miller Patroller Foreperson Trimmer Foreperson ArborMetrics Solutions Florida New York Tennessee California

Ralph Schneider Daniel Stokes Jimmie Tonkin Scott Woodrow Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Wisconsin Florida West Virginia New York 25YEARS

Charles Adams Benjamin Alvarez Michael Baxter Jeff Burleson Scott Campbell Foreperson Work Planner General Foreperson Work Planner General Foreperson Louisiana Texas Kansas Alabama Oklahoma

Timothy Clark Peter Collar Kenneth Collins Colleen Crimins Ignacio Gutierrez, Jr. General Foreperson Work Planner General Foreperson Input Operator Patroller Florida West Virginia Kentucky Payroll ArborMetrics Solutions Willow Grove California

James Hinton Jim Horrocks James Kilgallon Jackie Lee Lauver Roger Lister General Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Shop Foreman Foreperson Indiana Washington Pennsylvania Arborchem Products Maine Pennsylvania

William Maxwell Robert Oliver Brian Roberts Minard Severance David Simmons Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Manager Asplundh Brush Control Pennsylvania Maine Maine Virginia New York

Jesus Soriano Benjamin Stinson Cloyd Varner, Jr. Leo Wooden Kevin Yowell Patroller General Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson General Foreperson ArborMetrics Solutions Musgrove Construction Pennsylvania Missouri Missouri California Alabama 20YEARS

Jimmy Alexander Chris Bianco William Blum James Boone Dewey Boyd General Foreperson Foreperson Work Planner Foreperson Foreperson Railroad Division Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Railroad Division Wisconsin Texas West Virginia

Phillip Brunson Brett Carter Douglas Chambers Neil Cherek Anthony Childress Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Alabama Wisconsin New York Wisconsin North Carolina

Terry Clay Ronnie Cline Brady Jeffrey Coburn Michael Cremeans Teddy Dalton General Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Journeyman West Virginia New York West Virginia West Virginia West Virginia

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 19 20YEARS

Todd Dawson Stacy Dean David Fleischner George Fowler, III Richard Fronk RSS Work Planner Executive Vice President Trimmer Trimmer Indiana Ohio Willow Grove Asplundh Brush Control Asplundh Brush Control New York New York

Roger Galvan Jeff Garski Paul Gill Michael Golesh Felix Gonzalez Superintendent Foreperson Foreperson Trimmer General Foreperson Texas Wisconsin Pennsylvania Wisconsin Texas

David Gruber Scott Harmon Delmer Harris Bobby Hawkins David Hickox Trimmer Vice President General Foreperson General Foreperson Foreperson New York Missouri West Virginia North Carolina Georgia

Melody Hill Dorsal Holland Charles Hyde David Irwin Eric Jeffrey Office Manager General Foreperson Foreperson General Foreperson Foreperson Kentucky West Virginia Alabama Pennsylvania West Virginia

Gary Jenkins Tilunda Johnson Mahlon Kurtz Glen LaClair Ronald Lauver Foreperson Office Manager Foreperson Trimmer Warehouse Worker Virginia Maryland Wisconsin Asplundh Brush Control Arborchem Products New York Pennsylvania

Robert Laws Jessie Lenz Scott Leonard Henry Lewis Bryan Magee Work Planner Foreperson Supervisor General Foreperson Foreperson North Carolina Wisconsin Kansas Florida Mississippi

Jeffery Malanson Ted Mansur Avelino Martinez Keith Martz Brian McComas Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson General Foreperson Journeyman New Hampshire New Mexico Georgia New Hampshire West Virginia

Roland Meadows Michael Messinger Steve Miller Raul Miranda Mark Mollohan Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson General Foreperson Virginia Virginia Georgia Texas West Virginia

Mickey Norris Mark Old Richard Ovitt Earl Padgett, III Gene Parker Trimmer Foreperson Foreperson Crew Leader General Foreperson Wisconsin Virginia New York New Jersey North Carolina

Edwin Peters Cecil Peterson Carol Picker Walter Reamy, Jr. James Riley Foreperson Foreperson Journeyman Foreperson Journeyman Virginia Michigan Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia

Carlos Rodriguez Michael Roosendaal Marshall Runnion Frank Saninocencio Phillip Savage, Jr. Foreperson Supervisor Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Washington Washington West Virginia New York New York

Larry Scroggins Richard Selvoski Michael Shank Mark Shrock Howard Slater General Foreperson General Foreperson Supervisor Work Planner Foreperson Asplundh Brush Control Pennsylvania Railroad Division Indiana West Virginia Oklahoma West Virginia

David Smitherman Michael Somers Jeffrey Steinert George Sturgill Ronald Sudsberry Foreperson General Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson General Foreperson Alabama North Carolina Wisconsin North Carolina Alabama

The Asplundh TREE 20 Summer 2018 20YEARS

Gary Sulltrop David Taylor Roger Thompson Steven Thompson Paul Turley Sprayer General Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Foreperson Railroad Division Virginia Michigan Washington West Virginia Missouri

Gene Versey Raymond Vitti, Jr. Harry Walker Don Weimann John White Foreperson General Foreperson General Foreperson RSS General Foreperson Oklahoma Asplundh Construction North Carolina Railroad Division West Virginia Pennsylvania Missouri

William Wilson, Sr. Paul Workman Kevin Worzalla Raymond Young Foreperson General Foreperson General Foreperson Supervisor West Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Railroad Division Texas

HOMEOFFICEHONORS

p Home Office Employees Of The Month—Each month, a Home Office employee who goes above and beyond to support their coworkers and our field operations is rewarded with the p Home Office Employee Of The Year—Fleet Services Employee of the Month award. The latest winners were Lead Equipment Advisor Debbie Miller was named the (L to R): Betsy Kosyla of Accounts Payable, who won in November Home Office Employee of the Year at the Holiday Assembly 2017; Samantha Schnitzer of Customer & Field Liaison (now on December 14, 2017. Debbie was recognized by her Home with Independence Property Services), who earned the award in Office Department and four field regions for dedicated service, December 2017; Blair Dunlap of Information Technology, who knowledge of equipment, helpfulness and willingness to take was honored in January; and Nick Pescatore of Customer & Field on additional responsibilities to support her department. Fleet Liaison, who was recognized in February. Thank you all for your Services Director John Talbot had the honor of presenting her hard work and dedication to our company! with a $1,000 cash prize, a specially-engraved plaque and a personalized jacket. Congratulations, Debbie!

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 21 CREWS & NEWS COMMUNITYSERVICE FAMILYALBUM

u General Foreperson Mark May from the Bobby King Region in Kentucky would like to share his three reasons for working safe. (L to R) Thomas, 7, Harper, 9, and Hudson, 5, who wait for their dad to come home safe each night from overseeing crews on Kentucky Power property so they can hear his “tree stories”. As Mark aptly puts it, “these kids are the reason I work safe and strive to hold my employees to that standard.” What’s your reason for working safe? p Eden Touch-A-Truck Helps Kids In Need—For the third year t Asplundh Construction Project in a row, the Matthew Pence Region participated in the City of Eden’s Manager Paul Peters (L) and his Touch-A-Truck day on August 19, 2017. Admission to the event is a wife, Heather (back R), organized non-perishable food item for the Kids Backpack Food Program, which a Christmas party for the village benefits local underprivileged children. General Foreperson Mike Somers of Henderson, Illinois this past (second from R) and Forepersons Jay Lipford (far R) and Chris Smith December. And what Christmas (far L) were proud to show Eden’s Director of Municipal Services Paul party would be complete without Dishmon (second from L), as well as the curious public, the Jarraff a visit from jolly Ol’ Saint Nick? all-terrain tree trimmer they brought to the event this year. These folks Gas Meter Installer Kenny Baker work on Duke Energy property in North Carolina. (center) worked his magic so Santa could spend time with the children at the party, including Paul and Heather’s one-year-old daughter, Adalynn, (front R). Paul oversees projects for various utility customers including SPECIALEVENTS Ameren, and Kenny handles AMI smart grid meter installations for MARPS. u General Foreperson Shayne Dion (R) is all smiles holding his first grandchild. Sweet Annie Birch (L) was born on September 12, 2017, and as you can see in this photo, she already has her grandpa wrapped around her little finger. Shayne has worked for Asplundh for 25 years, and currently oversees Paul Arno Region employees on Eversource Energy property in New Hampshire.

t American Lighting and Signalization p Wolford Region Appreciation Manager Richard Calledare has Picnics Are A Hit—Last summer, been skydiving for 33 years, with 8,700 the Mike Wolford Region in West jumps under his belt. He added three Virginia held a series of picnics to show more world records to his resume last appreciation to employees and their fall when he took part in the 2017 families and reinforce safety values. The idea for the picnics is based on a Sequential Games. Held in Eloy, Arizona, suggestion made by Sponsor / Executive Vice President Chris Asplundh, Jr. Richard was one of 219 skydivers who a few years ago. Supervisors Melvin Crist and John Belton (now a manager) set a world record for a two-point dive enlisted the help of their general forepersons and their spouses, who (each skydiver has to be connected in a worked tirelessly to line up locations and organize activities at each formation, in two places). Later on during the games, he helped set the record picnic. Each location had plenty of food, fun and prize giveaways for the for a 217-person 3-point dive, and a 64-person nighttime dive. When on land, adults and children alike, giving the employees and their families time to Richard is based in Sanford, Florida, overseeing traffic signalization, and roadway socialize and share their shared “orange blood” experiences. and navigation lighting operations for Florida DOT and various asset managers.

The Asplundh TREE 22 Summer 2018 ONTHEJOB SPORTSMEN’SCORNER t No Job Too Big For u Permitter Wayne Miller Region Crew—A crew Marty’s daughter, from the Steve Miller Region Tiara, 17, harvested in Maryland was performing this 8-point buck outsourcing work for United with a 20'' spread on Illuminating in Connecticut, November 2, 2017. when they were contacted Wayne couldn’t be more about a tricky removal. An proud of his daughter. elm tree outside of City Hall She had gotten a buck in Milford, Connecticut was once before while in decline, threatening power hunting with him, but lines and public safety. Another this was the first time contractor backed out of the job Tiara got one while because they felt the job was hunting alone. When too unsafe to complete. General he’s not out enjoying the Foreperson William Portal and woods, Wayne works Forepersons Alberto Hernandez, in the Joe Schneider Joel Lopez, Edwin Montes and Region, obtaining Ernest Pabon evaluated the tree permissions for line clearance work on We Energies property in Wisconsin. and developed a plan to remove it safely. Using an aerial lift, a two-point rigging system and ample communication, this crew was able to remove the 100-foot-tall, 57'' DBH elm in just under two days without incident. After felling, it was determined that the tree was close to 200 years old. u Practice Makes Perfect—When a stand of trees near an AEP Ohio distribution line in Carrollton needed to be removed to maintain the safety of the lines, it became a perfect opportunity for trimmers in p Last October, Travis Bottcher (not shown), his son, Noah, 13 the Keith Confere Region (above), and their trusty hunting dog, Cocoa, went out duck hunting to work on their climbing along the Kootenai River just north of Bonners Ferry in Idaho. This photo skills. Trimmers Preston shows that it was a pretty successful day. Noah got four mallard ducks Hoffman, Kris Burdette, and one widgeon, which is pretty impressive, considering that this was Tyler Gauer and Kaleb his second year hunting with his dad. When not hunting with Noah, or Armstrong climbed the guiding others to great hunting locations, Travis is a general foreperson in 80-foot-tall trees and the Jon-Paul Paulsen Region. He oversees crews working on Avista Utilities with coaching from their property in Idaho. forepersons (not shown) Joe Essig, Huey Jones and Freddie Payne, they improved their climbing and pruning skills while safely completing the work.

u PGE and Asplundh Find Honey Bees A New Home—Two dead Lombardy poplars were threatening a Portland General Electric (PGE) three-phase line in Hillsboro, Oregon. During the removal process, an active, mature honey bee hive was discovered in one of the trees. General Foreperson Jon Geyer from the Bill Harrington Region made a call for help to Urban Bees and Gardens, a nonprofit that rescues wild hives. Brian Lacy with Urban Bees provided Foreperson Shawn Mollenhour with the appropriate bee personal protective equipment as he used a series of ropes and blocks to cut out the section of the tree with the hive and safely lower it into Brian’s trailer. As the hive was on its way to its new home in Lake Grove, (L to R) Shawn, Journeyman Eric Henneman, PGE Forestry Specialist Chad Burns and Apprentice Kevin Brumfield toasted the successful job with a taste of the hive’s honey.

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 23 30-YEARWATCHES

p Asplundh Brush Control (ABC) Manager Randy McCulloch (second from L, May 1987) was p Vice President David Fulford (far L) presented p At the LG&E / KU Quarterly Meeting in toasted at a dinner celebrating 30 years of service by Foreperson Chris Kuhn (second from L, July November 2017, Executive Vice President Chris Vice President Mike Zehler (far R), ABC Vice President 1987) with a specially-engraved watch to mark Asplundh, Jr. (R) gave Manager Bobby King (L, Bob Ray (far L) and Senior Vice President Larry his 30 th anniversary with Asplundh. Also on hand October 1987) a handshake of appreciation along Moore, who presented him with a specially-engraved were (R to L) Xcel Energy Manager of Vegetation with a specially-engraved watch in recognition of watch. Randy oversees crews working for various Brent Bolzenius, Trimmer Eligio Vasquez and his 30 years of dedicated service. Bobby oversees investor-owned utilities and construction companies General Foreperson Josh Viles. Chris works on work throughout Kentucky for various cooperative, throughout the Southeast, Texas and Oklahoma. Xcel Energy property in Colorado. municipal and investor-owned utilities.

p Manager Don Redden (far R) presented a p With a hug of appreciation for 30 years of p Foreperson George Warren (center, October specially-engraved watch to Foreperson John excellent service, Corporate Communications 1987) received a crew visit from Manager Stephen Stonelake (second from R, November 1987) Manager Patti Chipman (L) presented Writer / Williams (L) and Supervisor Dave Ouzts (R), for 30 years of loyal service. (From L) General Editor Kristin Wild (R, December 1987) with along with a handshake of appreciation and a Foreperson Elwood Hess and Supervisor Greg a specially-engraved watch. For the past three specially-engraved watch for 30 years of excellent Kulp joined in and the group went to lunch to decades, Kristin has written The Asplundh service. George oversees a crew on Indiana celebrate. John works on PPL Electric Utilities TREE magazine — the humble publication Michigan Power property in southwest Michigan. property in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania area. you’re currently holding in your hands!

t Freight Coordinator TRAININGTIMES Jo Casserly (R, November t November 2017 GFTP— 1987) received The General Foreperson Training a specially- Program was hosted by Field engraved watch Personnel Manager Pete Kwasnjuk from former on November 13-17, 2017. Supply Chain Held at the Home Office in Management Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, the Director Scott attendees were (front row, L to Lambrecht (L) R): Jose Camargo-Posado, Illinois; for 30 years of outstanding service. Following Joseph Bateman, Florida; Abner a supplier meeting, they went out to dinner to Galdamez, Maryland; Logan Stinson, Ohio; Chris Deal, West Virginia; Dylan McMahon, Colorado; celebrate Jo’s milestone and reminisce about Randall Talbert, South Carolina; and Bryan Rose, Arborchem, Pennsylvania. In the middle row were their time with the company. Jo works out of the (L to R): Cade Warkentin, Nevada; Dustin Humpert, Kansas; Larry Auld, Washington; Jose Segura, Lynchburg, Virginia office, where she uses her Alabama; Cheyenne Hartzell, Idaho; Mike North, New Hampshire; and Frederick Bond, Virginia. expertise in routing, shipping and returns to In the back row were (L to R): Darrell York, Indiana; James White, Maine; Jeremy Shrum, Missouri; keep our fleet and supply chain running smoothly. Keith Troutman, Pennsylvania; Eric Blauser, Pennsylvania; and Josh Viles, Colorado.

The Asplundh TREE 24 Summer 2018 SUPPORTING TREE FUND THROUGH EVENT PARTNERSHIPS

or those of you who are new to u The very first Tour des Trees (TdT) Asplundh, you should know that cycling event took place in 1992 F the company has supported the and raised funds to benefit the work of Tree Research and Education Research Trust of the International Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) for Society of Arboriculture, a predecessor to decades by partnering in fund-raising TREE Fund. Asplundh Technical Services events. In fact, the upcoming Asplundh Manager Geoff Kempter (standing, far R) Golf Outing on August 27 in Omaha, road-biked over 1,000 miles from Seattle, Nebraska at the Trees & Utilities Washington to Oakland, California with Conference will be the 24th annual event this legendary group of arborists. President to benefit TREE Fund. In addition, for of UtiliCon Solutions Brent Asplundh, a at least 18 years, Asplundh has donated manager back then, also rode in the last leg of that TdT. Geoff continued to cycle in six additional food, drink and public relations support, TdT events, personally raising over $35,000 for TREE Fund over the years. for cyclists in the annual Tour des Trees (TdT), a fund-raising and public education event that is now in its 26th year. t Last summer, the Steve Miller Region hosted two food and drink rest stops on the In case you’re not familiar with 2017 TdT’s route in Maryland. The Miller TREE Fund, it’s a charitable trust that Region support team is pictured here was established in 2002 through a (L to R) with Corporate Communications merger of the Research Trust of the Writer/Editor Kristin Wild (far L): Supervisor International Society of Arboriculture Pat Sullivan, General Forepersons Vince (ISA) and the National Arborist Baxter and Brian Chester, Groundperson Foundation of the National Arborist Sergio Rivas and General Foreperson Marvin Association, now the Tree Care Industry Escobar. They helped to keep the cyclists Association (TCIA). It has awarded over hydrated and energized for their 99-mile ride $3.4 million in research and education that day. Their partnership also saved some grants, as well as college scholarships, significant event expenses for TREE Fund. since 2002. This funding improves the science, safety and professionalism of the arboriculture industry, and in particular, u The 2017 TdT riders also received utility arboriculture through its Utility a warm Asplundh welcome, plus cold Arborist Research Fund (UARF). drinks, snacks and trinkets, thanks to the David Simmons Region in Virginia. While the company and many of our General Forepersons William Jenkins, employees make direct donations to Steve Hosaflook and Cletus Hottle specific TREE Fund programs, a corporate (now a Dominion Energy forester), plus partnership entails hosting or contributing Forepersons Jose Morales, Jr., Jose to events that raise money and awareness Guillen-Escobar and Augustin Cruz, dished for TREE Fund programs. Our annual up the hospitality for this TdT event at golf outing and support of the Tour des the American Horticultural Society property Trees are good examples. The advantage in Alexandria, near Washington, DC. of a partnership is that Asplundh gets Learn more about the Tour des Trees at www.treefund.org/tourdestrees. its name and logo in social media outlets and in print. This helps to demonstrate leadership in the utility vegetation management industry and in the public The TdT’s educational and entertaining More than $125,000 has been raised realm, where our crews work every day. events along the way spread the over the years by Asplundh riders. In Tour des Trees message to the public of the importance fact, Technical Services Manager Geoff of proper tree care. The fund-raising Kempter rode in the very first TdT Since 1992, the TdT cyclists have part of this event is handled by the from Seattle, Washington to Oakland, carried the message of science-based, riders who raise a minimum of $3,500 California and since then, he has ridden in safe arboriculture as they ride 500+ for the full week-long tour, all of which six full or partial TdTs. Other multi-tour miles from town-to-town for a week. goes directly into TREE Fund programs. riders from the company have included

The Asplundh TREE Summer 2018 25 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE International Headquarters PAID 708 Blair Mill Road Southeastern, PA Willow Grove, PA 19090 Permit # 8099 www.asplundh.com

SUPPORTING TREE FUND Continued from page 25

Chief Operating Officer of UtiliCon It’s that time of year again! Solutions Steven Asplundh (seven You’re invited to ... partial TdTs), Vice President Joe Lentz of Arborchem Products Division (six full TdTs), Writer/Editor Kristin Wild in Corporate Communications (16 full Tee off for and partial TdTs), and recently retired th Forestry Foreperson John Harthoorn of at the 24 Annual Golf Outing our construction subsidiary, Utility Lines Construction Services (seven full TdTs). Monday, August 27, 2018 TREE Fund relies on partnership Shoreline Golf Course arrangements with companies or 210 Locust Road other arboriculture organizations in Carter Lake, IA 51510 order to cover the expenses for meals, accommodations and mechanical www.golfshoreline.com support, etc. For Asplundh, this has often entailed a combination of financial p Calling all golfers and attendees of the Trees & Utilities Conference! Registration is open and “in-kind” donations, such as food, until August 17 and hole sponsorships are still available. Net proceeds benefit TREE Fund. drinks and even public relations support. Get more information at www.asplundh.com/about/news. Please direct your questions, Twenty-six years after the first TdT, or e-mail the golf registration / hole sponsorship form, to [email protected]. Asplundh is still involved. This summer, Manager Keith Confere will be hosting two food and drink rest stops for cyclists during the 2018 TdT in Ohio. and trade show. Many of the golfers and are designated to support the UARF within hole sponsors were invited by Asplundh. TREE Fund. Research findings from the A Benefit Golf Outing Responsibility for arranging this annual UARF grants directly or indirectly improve In 1994, back in the days of the Research industry event was gradually taken over by the industry in which we serve—a great Trust of the ISA, Asplundh purchased the the company, with net proceeds going to benefit of our partnership. TREE Fund as part of our partnership. primary sponsorship of the charity’s annual This year’s golf outing is just around golf fund-raiser, which was always held at In recent years, all of the net proceeds the corner and we hope to have the best the beginning of the annual ISA conference from the golf outing that exceed $10,000 turnout ever! Please see above for details.